If the cold snap arrives… let it find us prepared for any setbacks. Sometimes, a little foresight, however small, can spare us a hard time.
When it comes to driving in the cold, there is no room for improvisation. What you wear inside a vehicle is important, as we saw here. But that is not all. If we are going out in the coming days, with temperatures set to drop, we will need to check certain aspects of the car, its maintenance and our luggage. Temperatures of -6º C are forecast in the coldest provincial capitals (Teruel, Huesca, Lleida, Cuenca, Ávila… among others), and the snow line is expected to fall (to 100-400 metres above sea level), according to eltiempo.es, so we had better think about the next cold snap. It cannot be ruled out!
What is essential when preparing a trip or journey in these weather conditions?
- It is one thing to avoid wearing a coat and gloves inside the car, and another to forget gloves or mittens in case you have to get out to change a wheel, fit chains or put out warning triangles. Another important accessory is sunglasses, and not to look like a celebrity: we will avoid daytime glare, especially from the reflections of snow-covered surfaces lit by the sun.
- An ice scraper? Yes, please: that is what driving on ice involves. Along with screenwash with antifreeze. That way we can keep the vehicle's windows and lights clean, stopping every so often to clean them (that would be advisable). Dipped headlights, front fog lights or rear fog lights are the ones we should switch on in snowfall.
Keeping the temperature around 19º C to 22º C is the right thing to do. Do not overdo the heat, as it can make us drowsy… especially if we have been behind the wheel for a while and have heated seats which, like the climate control, should be used sensibly.- Car maintenance is compulsory, as the ITV (MOT) itself reminds us from time to time. If the weather is harsh, we will be more grateful than ever that the vehicle is in good order in terms of antifreeze level, screenwash level, tyre pressure, battery condition and lights; if we have winter tyres, all the better (or chains on the drive wheels).
- Large plastic bags in case we have to roll up our sleeves to fit the chains, blankets and sleeping bags in case we get stranded (so the roadside assistance tow truck does not find us frozen), cables and chargers for mobile phones and tablets, torches, matches, some food and drink (water, energy bars, fruit, snacks)... these are things we must not be without if we are driving in the middle of a cold snap.